Ron Paul and Barney Frank to introduce Hemp Bill.

[peoli]

Reps Paul, Frank introduce bill to legalize industrial hemp

Industrial hemp, a non-drug variety of the cannabis plan, used for centuries for its versatile fibers, is the subject of a new bill filed by Congressmen Ron Paul (R-TX) and Barney Frank (D-MA). They and eight cosponsors, both Republican and Democrat, hope to legalize the plant so American farmers can begin supplying fibers for a wide array of products, with the overreaching goal of opening a new sector in American agriculture.

"It is unfortunate that the federal government has stood in the way of American farmers, including many who are struggling to make ends meet, from competing in the global industrial hemp market," said Representative Ron Paul during his introduction of the bill and in a media advisory issued by advocacy group VoteHemp.

"Indeed, the founders of our nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained federal government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand up for American farmers and co-sponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act."

"There is strong support among key national organizations for a change in the federal government's position on hemp," the release said. "The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) 'supports revisions to the federal rules and regulations authorizing commercial production of industrial hemp.' The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has also passed a pro-hemp resolution."

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Reps_Paul_Frank_introduce_farming_bill_0403.html